Octopus Tattoo Derby

Octopus Tattoo offers top quality tattooing by award winning artists. Octopus currently has 4 resident artists, each with their own unique style and approach. Octopus also regularly has guest artists in the studio, all information on up and coming events can be found on Octopus Tattoo social media.

Though the artists at Octopus predominantly do bespoke tattoos a selection of quality flash designs are available with all styles of work catered for. The artists also offer free consultations to discuss your ideas and ensure you have the best possible artist for the job.

On this site you will find examples of each artist’s work, booking information, aftercare and much more. Please use the top menus to navigate round this site. If there is any other information you need please contact us using the form below.

Rates and Booking

Rates

Consultation and artwork

Consultations are a small but very important part of the tattoo process. Consultations are either a simple email exchange with your chosen artist (especially for those who are travelling) or a face-to face discussion. An in person approach is always preferred as it will give you and the artist quality time to define details and content along with size and positioning. Consultations are usually required when dealing with cover ups and re-works of old tattoos.

You are welcome to bring any reference material you may have to aid in explaining your ideas. However, please be aware that artists will not directly copy any other tattoos or artwork. All consultations are free of charge with no obligation to book in.

Once the consultation is complete and you would like to go ahead with the tattoo a deposit must be paid to secure the appointment (see our policies for more information). Once a time and date has been mutually agreed your chosen artist will start the initial artwork; A pencil sketch / thumbnail is standard as preparation, but the degree of refinement and any additional steps (colour compositions, thumbnail sketches, etc) is entirely down to the artists preference. Any preparatory artwork is, and remains, the property of the artist. If it is agreed during the consultation process, it may be viewed (either in person or via photograph) ahead of your appointment.

To book a consultation, contact any of the artists directly via the information on the artist gallery pages or call the studio on 01332 204240.

FAQ

Can I get a tattoo if I am under 18?

No. Legally if you are under the age of 18 you are not allowed to get a tattoo (Tattooing of Minors Act 1969). There is a common misconception that if you are over 16 and accompanied by an adult then you can proceed with a tattoo, this however is not true. Octopus Tattoo operates a strict no under 18’s policy and you will be asked to produce photographic ID if you are under the age of 25.

How much will it cost?
The cost of a tattoo is determined by how long the tattoo will take to complete. Size, level of detail and if the tattoo is a cover up will all contribute to session duration. During your consultation your chosen artist will give you a quote for your design based these criteria. All prices are at the artists discretion (please see rates for more information).

Does it hurt?
Sadly yes tattoos do hurt but the real question should be is “how much do they hurt?”. All pain is relative to the individual as different people deal with pain in different ways. There are areas of the body that pinch more then others, for example, feet, wrists, ribs and inner legs and arms but again the level of pain is down to the individual. It has been known that some individuals become nauseous or faint during tattoos but this is an unlikely event. Fainting is a uncommon body response to pain caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, this is usually harmless and easily treated. If at any point your are struggling with the pain or feel any of these symptoms please tell your tattooist and they will assist you / give you a break.

The process of having a tattoo can be quite physically demanding so it is important to prepare yourself before the tattoo can begin. Being well hydrated will maintain your electrolyte levels allowing you to be more focused. Being well nourished this will maintain your blood sugar levels and help prevent any dizziness (avoid overly greasy / rich food that may cause discomfort or heartburn). Have a good nights sleep being tired will actually make your body less tolerant to pain and will make you more irritable.

What happens during a tattoo?
When you arrive for your appointment you will be asked to fill in a consent form. This is a basic medical questionnaire and to make sure you are of sound body and mind to be receiving a tattoo. You will then be taken into the work area where the artist will prepare the area to be tattooed and apply the stencil. When you are happy with the placement and the design the tattoo will begin. Once the tattoo session is complete a temporary dressing of cling film will be applied and the artist will go through the after care process with you. Please be aware that although your tattoo is quoted in time the duration of your stay in the studio will be longer. This is to allow for preparation, breaks etc. Octopus Tattoo has a strict no under 18’s policy so please arrange appropriate childcare if necessary.

How do I take care of my tattoo?
Please refer to our after care on this website for full details on the best way to take care of your tattoo, however your tattooist will make sure you fully understand the process and you will be provided with an after care sheet when you leave the studio. Some light scabbing is perfectly normal it will look similar to fish flakes and will be quite dry, if you have thick or heavy scabbing this may indicate you may need to slightly change your after care routine. Once the tattoo is fully healed ensure that you apply moisturiser regularly as this will ensure the skin is supple and the colours will stay bright. If you have any questions or worries please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Can I use numbing cream?
No. ‘Numbing creams’ can detrimentally affect the skin’s ability to withstand the tattoo process and our artist can not take any responsibility for any reactions that you may have or any issues that you may have during the healing process. There are numbing sprays available that can be applied during the tattoo session once the skin has been broken but these are usually reserved for long tattoo sessions. Please do not apply ointments marketed as ‘numbing creams’ prior to your tattoo appointment unless specifically advised by your artist.

Pre-appointment Preparation

Payment for tattoos can be cash or card depending on the artist (card fees apply).

Card payments through Octopus Tattoo for deposits are £70 and £100 only.

Octopus Tattoo operates a strict no under 18’s policy so please arrange appropriate childcare if necessary.

Although tattoo work is quoted per hour, please expect your visit to be longer to allow for necessary preparations, breaks, etc.

A minimum of 48hrs notice is required for all cancellations and re-bookings. Anything less than 48hrs will result in loss of deposit.

Please do not attend your appointment under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Failure to comply will result in refusal and your deposit will be forfeit.

Aftercare

Leave the dressing on for four hours / overnight

Remove the dressing and wash the tattoo with hot water (as hot as you can stand) and non-perfumed, non antibacterial soap. Use your hand only to massage the soap and water in and do this until the tattoo stops feeling slimy.

Rinse off the soapy water and PAT dry the tattoo with a clean towel or kitchen towel. When the tattoo is fully dry pat over a thin layer of recommended after care ointment if required. Excessive rubbing can cause irritation and trauma to the tattoo.

Wash, rinse, dry and apply after care to your tattoo as described above, 2-3 times a day, NO MORE, for 3-4 days.

After the fourth day start using a non perfumed moisturiser instead of your after care ointment.

Keep washing and applying moisturiser to the tattoo for at least another week or so until the tattoo is completely smooth.

DURING HEALING

Please wear loose and comfortable clothing that your body can breathe in (preferably made of cotton).

Do not pick at or scratch your tattoo and DO NOT let any other person or any animals/ pets touch the tattoo.

Do not take recreational drugs as it will slow down your healing process.

Do not soak the area that has been tattooed in a bath. It is best to take showers only until the tattoo is healed. Do not use perfumed shower / bath gels.

Don’t go swimming, in a pool or otherwise, until your tattoo is fully healed.

Keep your tattoo covered from sunlight and do not expose it to sunbeds or saunas during healing

Try not to listen to self-proclaimed ‘experts’. They are not the professionals.

AFTER YOUR TATTOO HAS HEALED

Moisturise as often as you like and preferably every day at least once to keep the colours of your tattoo vivid.

Always apply factor 50 + sun block when exposing your tattoo to the sunlight, this prevents the colours from fading.

If you are in any doubt at all about anything related to the after care of your tattoo or the healing process itself, please get in touch as we are always happy to help!

Visitor Information

Parking

Unfortunately we do not have parking facilities at the studio, however there is a car park at the top of Babbington Lane that is £3.70 all day, or in the Intu centre which is charged hourly. During the weekend there is a small car park just round the corner from the studio on Back Sitwell Street which provides cheaper parking.

Policies

Shop policies are as stated:

All bookings require a £70 deposit (£100 for day sessions with certain artists). All tattoos under £70 require a 50% deposit.

All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable but will be deducted from your final total upon completion of the tattoo. Octopus Tattoo will issue a tattoo gift voucher for all over payments (if appropriate).

All cancellations or re-bookings must be made within a 48 hour period, failure to do so will result in loss of deposit. Cancellations / re-bookings may only be made a maximum of three times by one person, anything over will also result in loss of deposit.

All floating deposits will be held for a maximum period of 6 months except in exceptional medically substantiated circumstances and during pregnancy.

Touch- ups (if required) are to be performed within a 6 months of the tattoo being completed and are to be done once only.

Copyright on designs and photographs belongs to the artist and each artist retains the right to use images else where.

Artists will give quotes for small tattoos based on the hourly rate.

Artists will estimate large scale ongoing pieces are estimated using day rates or hourly rates if the piece is multiple sessions.

Contact

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Testimonials

Excellent studio very impressed Matt was great took the time to get my design spot on. Really please with the result and have had many compliments on the work already, was also amazed at how quick it has heeled, will be returning to get more done. Everyone at the studio I met have been very pleasant and chatty which puts you at ease as soon as you walk in.

Paul Inger

This was my first ever tattoo at 20 years old and well, not much I can say besides "Fantastic!". It went flawlessly, been about 4 days or so since I got it done and it's turned out beautiful. Huge thanks to Andy! You did a great job and made a beautiful little piece (and safely hidden away!!). Everyone was cracking jokes and having a good time and that really put me at ease. Without a doubt I will be back for more as they did a great job and all staff were very lovely.
Thank you again! :)

Sameer Hussain

Subliminally fantastic, will make these my life long artists if possible and I've loved tattoos since I was a kiddy xxx

F...eebees

Thanks so much to Gerry, my daughter got a bad tattoo elsewhere and Gerry did an absolutely fantastic job at repairing it! Many thanks..

Guy Borrington

Had loads of work done by mat,some cover up,some mats own. I just leave mat to get on with it. His work speaks for itself,good bunch of lads and 1 dudess (mads). The only negative is the shit music Gerry plays but it's a small price to pay for a good few hours of madness and great tattoos.

Steve hudson

From the initial phone call to my appt, friendly professional and nice people, impressive artwork by actrue craftsman ( Gerry ) super job and entertained the whole time 100%

Russ Masters

Awesome Talent! Andy is amazing!!! Wanted to cover up a poor impulsive tattoo from my youth and I always wanted a full back piece. Andy took time to discuss ideas and once we were happy with the design there was no looking back. Have a realistic statue of St Michael, and the detail is superb. Good banter to be had with the other artists and clients and I was looked after well by all the staff. I definitely recommend Octopus and Andy, they're just too good!!

Dave Hall

*All the Stars*
"I had my first and second tattoos at Octopus with the great Gerry Carnelly and he did a super job (and only mocked me a little when my mum rang the studio to ask if the tattoo was "too big"). I have since moved from Derby to Plymouth and will be travelling all the way back up to plot my next piece as soon as I am able. I have sent a fair few of my friends your way whenever they have asked where to go for ink and they too have all been very happy with the work."

Rebecca Jackson

Nervous at 44yrs.
At 44 I was nervous at having my 3rd tattoo as my last 2 were 20 yrs ago and be honest not very good at all! It took me a long time to decide what I wanted and the courage to get it done. I needn't have worried as Andy explained how small and big the writing would work on my arm, he put me very much as ease and the atmosphere was very nice. I love my new tattoo and if Andy is willing I will be back for another one - or 2.

Hugh Chambers

Super Dooooper!! 5 Stars
Brilliant artists & lovely staff. We are regulars and keep returning for more! Both Ben & Gerry have given us amazing tattoos and we recommend you to everyone who asks. You guys have provided us with amazing art from the 1st date to marriage & a baby! love you loads Alice & John xxx
Alice and John Leworthy

Alice and John Leworthy

5 Stars
Octopus tattoo is an amazing tattoo parlour in Derby. I came in seeking advice for a cover up of tattoo that I had done elsewhere and hated and had some laser surgery on. Everyone was really helpful, gave me great advice and I ended up with an amazing large neck tattoo that spans from the back and around both sides, that we worked out together. Ben produced an amazing design from a sketch that I did and couldn't be happier with. Would definitely recommend 100%. Cheers guys.

Tim Ox

5 star set up.
I had a shoulder piece done with Gerry a number of years ago and the colour has remained sharp. Even though I then moved to the Channel Islands I flew back to Derby just to have Gerry do my other shoulder. Both pieces were designed to represent something meaningful and are true artworks. Absolutely 5* set up, design and experience. I was made to feel valued and at ease and couldn't recommend Octopus highly enough. Proud to wear Gerry's work.

Poppy Guernsey

Awesome Job!
A total of 3 tattoos done with Octopus. A very thank you to Ben for his artistic job. Al Pacino from Scarface, Sugar skull girl and a maori done by Artist Ben. Back in Singapore, a lot of good words added to it. once again thanks to Octopus - Ganesh(Singapore)

Ganehs Rajaram

Excellent, superb and other positive adjectives!
5 Stars. Excellent, superb and other positive adjectives! Very friendly staff, artists are quality and make clients feel totally at ease. Can't wait to go back for more work!

Colin Mackenzie

Good lad
5 Stars
Gerry.... What do you say, he worked on a previously unfinished piece of work I had, he called it polishing a terd. Couldn't agree more he turned an error into art. Good lad.

10/10
10/10! Had my first ever tattoo yesterday. Right from the start staff at Octopus made me feel at ease, fully explained things to me and made sure I was 100% happy with the design. Gerry was my tattoo artist, I can't recommend him highly enough! Really nice guy and extremely skilled artist. Can't wait for my next tattoo!!

Arran Goodall

Octoperfect.
I have been using Octopus tattoo for a fair few years now. Gerry is my artist of preference as he seems to understand me. I have had five out of my six tattoos by Mr Carnelly. Octopus has always been a nice environment to be in. Cleanliness is spot on and designs are imaginative and impeccably carried out. I hold Octopus tattoo in high regard and will be a repeat customer for many more years to come. Thank you folks! :D